Playing with Fire 4/?

Summary: Set after Play with Fire. Greg, fresh out of the hospital, after the lab explosion, finds himself in a position he never thought possible.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Rating: Possible R

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A thorough collection of evidence took the four investigators nearly two hours, of which Sara sat nervously in one of the Denali's, her mind elsewhere, both anxious and fearful at what they'd be greeted with arriving back at the hospital.

When the doors opened, Nick and Warrick slid in, Sara nearly jumped out of her skin. "Jeez."

"Sorry girl…" Warrick smiled at her, pulling on his seatbelt as Nick started the car, heading toward the hospital. "How're you holding up?"

"I…" She stopped as her thoughts overwhelmed her once more. "I just want to know he's okay."

"We do too Sara…" Nick agreed, eyeing her in the rearview. "We'll be there soon though."

Twenty minutes later they arrived to find a few of the Tech's and Brass in the waiting area.

"What's going on?" Nick questioned, finding the worried expressions on their faces.

"They took him into surgery. Cracked ribs and some internal bleeding. Other than that, it's mainly deep bruising all over his body."

"Did they say how long it'll take?" Sara stuttered, staring dumbly at the detective's words.

"They just took him and said it should be an hour or two. More if they more internal bleeding."

Nick and Warrick visibly cringed as Sara's breath shuddered in her chest.

Thankfully, for all parties, Greg's surgery lasted just over an hour, with the waiting room being informed of his recovery status. Within an hour of that he was transferred into a room for observation.

"You can go in, but I don't want everyone in at once. He needs some space to start recovery." The doctor informed the entire group before leaving them to figure out who would go in first and who would be last.

Catherine and Warrick were the first in since they both had to get back to the lab, and Catherine had to get home to Lindsay.

Next in were the tech's, each taking a little longer with their friend.

Finally, Nick and Sara took their turn. Greg had remained sedated throughout all of the other visits, so it wasn't a surprise to find him prone on the bed, his palms lay flat against the bed, the only sound in the room was Greg's slightly labored breath slipping from his bruised lips.

"Oh Greg." Nick cringed, stepping up to the side of the bed, his eyes scanning his friend.

"Greg." Sara sighed breathless, sliding into the chair next to the bed, her hand reaching for his, but stopped short feeling the Texans eyes on her.

They both stayed for nearly an hour when Nick stood to move to the door. "I want to stay longer but I really have to go. Do you want me to take you home?"

"Uhh…" Staring at Greg's still, prone form, Sara bit her lip. Greg still hadn't woken from his surgery, and she really didn't want to leave until he had. "No, I think I'm going to stay a little longer."

"Ok… I'll leave you the car, I'll get Warrick to pick me up."

"Ok." She offered him an uncomfortable smile as he handed her the keys. Her eyes were on him as he walked out of the door.

She waited a solid minute, until she knew he was gone before turning back to the younger man. Being able to stare… study this man who had professed his love for her, had escaped her until now.

With tentative breath Sara slid her hand across the bed to his, taking it in hers. Studying his bruised flesh she took in the feel of his warm palm in hers, even with his slightly stiff hand she could tell their hands fit together, nearly perfectly, making her heart pound wildly in her chest.

Her eyes drew up to his face.

She'd seen him plenty enough without all the bruising to know he was attractive. Not that she'd ever told him, or anyone, that he was easy on the eyes. His lower lip sat slightly perched as heavy breaths escaped him, his nostrils flaring with each new breath. She could imagine his eyes opening, slowly taking in her eyes studying him before dropping to her hand, which still held his.

Letting go of his hand she blushed at her subconscious, her eyes dropping to her hand, in her lap, the warmth of his palm still emanating across hers. Shaking her head, she looked up, her breath catching in her throat, finding his eyes open, staring directly at her. "Hi."

"Sara?" Greg stuttered, his sightly swollen eyes guiding over her. Licking his dry lips, he shook his head. "Am I dreaming?"

"No." Sara chuckled nervously, "Why would you say that?"

"I'm not dead? I… I didn't die?" His sudden shock turned to a cringe as pain took over his form. "What happened to me?"

"Well, were still weeding through the evidence…" Swallowing the lump in her throat, she turned away adding. "… but it was pretty obvious that you had been beaten… maybe whipped."

Greg shuddered as his mind was assaulted with images, the first of which had him on the phone with the woman before him.

"Sara… I love you."

"Oh my god."

Peter, irritated by Paul's sudden niceties, took him outside, by the sounds he could hear Greg assumed they weren't playing a game of toss.

He didn't have much time to think as Peter stepped back into the rundown house, his knuckles bloodied. "Your next you lying sack of shit."

"ly… lying?" Greg stuttered wide eyed, shaking his head, his eyes on the approaching man. "I didn't… I …" His words were cut off as the man back handed him across the face, his blood spraying across the floor and his arm, that was strapped to the bed post. "I…" He tried once again to explain but stopped as the man's boot came to a hard blow into his stomach, making him double over, his arms straining against his bonds. The last thing he remembered, before things went black, was the fist that came across his face.

The blow jolted Greg back to the present, his eyes wide, his breath leaving him in heavy pants.

Shocked by his sudden jump, Sara stepped forward, her hand resting on his shoulder. "Jeez Greg, you, okay?"

Pulling back from her touch, Greg shook his head, shoving his body to the side of the bed. "Please… please Sara… please leave… please?"

The look in his eyes told Sara now was not the time to argue. "Ok… ok… I'll leave… for now." Backing out of the room she kept her eyes on his until she passed the threshold before letting out a breath. "Tomorrow… I'll try tomorrow."

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